Chapter 11.

Jaxson

I lay Bella down in her room then I head down stairs to start looking through the files Shawn dropped off today. They're from more recent deals my father made before he passed.

I'm almost finished reading through them when the door bell rings. Ava has a key and always came through the back.

I'm just hoping it wouldn't be Shawn bringing more files.

It surprises me when I open the door to see Penelope, Bella's babysitter. She's crying hysterically, I don't know what to do.

"Is Ava here?" she asks me. "No, but umm... she should be back soon" I tell her. She nods and I open the door even more for her to come in.

"Are you okay? Can I get you anything?" She is for sure sweating. She shakes her head no but I go into the kitchen and get her a bottle of water anyway.

She starts hyperventilating. I look through me and Ava's contract and find her number. Just as I'm about to call her she comes in through the back.

"Hey how was Bel- Penelope? Are you okay?" She asks quickly making her way to the sobbing teenager.

"My mom died" she says as she sobs in her hands. My eyes widen. Ava hugs her tightly and rocks her a little.

"I am so sorry" Ava says with tears falling down her face. I shouldn't be here, but I don't want to be rude and leave the room.

Penelope leans away from Ava and sniffles. "Where's your dad? Is he okay?" Ava asks her grabbing her phone.

"He's still at the hospital signing papers. They won't release her body cause she didn't have insurance so we can't give her a funeral. Ava you know I hate asking you for things but if we don't pay they'll just throw her body somewhere." The teenager starts hyperventilating again.

"Hey, hey of course I'll help. You and your dad come here tomorrow and I'll have a lawyer here to discuss getting your mom released. And don't you even worry about anything else I'll handle funeral expenses and the hospital bill" she tells her rubbing the girls back.

"Thank you so much" Penelope says pulling Ava into another hug. That's so nice of Ava, many people with her money wouldn't have done that.

"You want to stay over tonight? It's dark outside" Ava asks the girl. She shakes her head no and wipes away her tears "I should probably get back to my father" she says standing up.

She looks at me "thanks for the water " she manages a smile I nod "no problem, I'm sorry for your loss" I tell her. Ava walks the girl to the door giving her one last hug.

I know exactly how the girl feels, she just lost a parent. I've lost two. It's the worst feeling in the world.

Ava

I walk back into the living and see Jaxson with his head down. He has to be thinking about Micheal and his mom.

"So um where's Bella?" I ask gaining his attention "she's sleep" "Did you guys have fun?" I ask trying to change his mood.

He notices and gives me a smile. "Yeah we had a super duper fun day as Bella would say" I chuckle.

"What'd you guys do?" " We went to the park, then to get ice cream, then to the arcade, and then we went shopping" he says pointing at the stacks of bags in the corner.

"More like you guys went on a shopping spree. She's really taking advantage of you" I tell him laughing.

He shakes his head no "she didn't even ask for anything but a jacket, I just bought her things because we were there" he says.

He's trying to buy my daughters love. "Why can't she have a puppy?" He asks me. "She can't look after it. I'm always at work I won't be here to take care of it and she's only three" I give him the same reasoning I gave Cedric.

"Problem solved! I'm here now and I'm never at work" he says. I roll my eyes "Jaxson you can't just get her a dog. She won't be responsible for it" I tell him.

I see him smirk "what if I get myself a dog and she plays with it?" I can't tell him not to get himself a dog.

"Okay but you'll be fully responsible. Not me!" I tell him. He fist bumps the air "yes" he says. I chuckle "now show me what you bought her" I say. He excitedly picks up the bags and hands them to me.

I look through all the bags. There were tons of toys and a lot of clothes, but what caught my eyes is a tiny black box.

My eyes widen as I open the box "you bought a three year old a diamond ring" I say and he nods.

"You realize she's going to lose this the second she puts it on" I tell him. He just shrugs, "it's adjusted, it won't fall off her finger."

I just nod taking the ring out the box and looking at it. "I got you a necklace just like it" he says handing me a longer black box.

It is beautiful, don't get me wrong but I have to give it back. I close the box "I can't take this" I tell him.

He frowns "why not?" "It's too much. I get it, you're buying Bella all this stuff so she can like you, but you're not doing that with me" I tell him.

He shakes his head. "It's more of a forgive me gift. I know I left you here with a kid all alone and I can't help but feel guilty. You went through nine months of pregnancy by yourself. And I wasn't really nice to you when I got back either. I'm an asshole" he admits.

I chuckle "yeah you are" "I'm sorry" he tells me seriously. Guilt has to be stacking up for him. "It's okay, the apology is good enough. You didn't have to go out and buy a diamond necklace" I say handing it back to him.

"Keep it please" I shake my head no "it's non refundable" he tells me. "I'm sure you'll find someone to give it to" He goes to argue back but I'm not taking the necklace.

"I have a question, and don't take this the wrong way" I tell him. "Okay?"

"If you're company is about to be bankrupt doesn't that mean you're also running low on money?" I ask him.

"Pfft no, I'm a multi-billionaire. My money comes from more than just the company I own restaurants, hotels, apartment buildings. In fact all my father taught me how to do was invest" he says.

"Woah, you're a billionaire?" I ask him, my eyes widen. "You're not?" he asks me confused. "A few millions but nothing close to the billions" I tell him honestly.

"Well I mean we're technically legally married so that makes you a billionaire" he tells me. I laugh "that's not the same. Teach me how to invest" I say.

"Tomorrow we'll find you a business to invest in" he says. "Tomorrow? Is it really that easy?"
I ask him. He nods "just go for the local businesses" he tells me.

I stand up "Now all I'm saying is... if I get to my room first you're sleeping in a guest room" I smirk getting ready to take off.

"Hey!" he yells as I run to the stairs. I'm halfway up the stairs when I feel pain in my rib. I quickly stop as the sharp pain continues to strike.

Okay he wins the room, I need pain pills. "Are you okay?" Jaxson asks me. "I'm good, just too much running" I manage to laugh.

He doesn't believe me. "I'm fine" I say waving it off. Bad idea! "Oh my god, Ava your arm!" He says taking my hand in his.

The dark purple imprint of a hand bruised my forearm. "What happened?" he asks staring hard at it. My father, what else could happen?

"Angry client" I easily lie to him. "Are you okay?" he asks me. I nod my head and give him a smile.

"I hope you guys called the cops" he says. "No, I decided to just let them go. That would've bought bad publicity anyway" I continue to easily lie.

"You should've told the guy you had a badass boxer husband" Jaxson jokes and I laugh. "I'm going to sleep with Bella again, she's been having nightmares lately" I tell him and he nods. "Goodnight" he says. "Goodnight!"